Manila: The role of nuclear science and technology in combatting global plastic pollution is the focal point of a significant event organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Manila. The International High Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics, which began on Tuesday, aims to present tangible outcomes from the flagship initiative launched by the IAEA in 2020.
According to EMM, the forum is hosted by the Government of the Philippines from November 25 to 26. It aims to underline advancements, recognize challenges, and set a future trajectory for NUTEC Plastics. The event's opening ceremony was attended by notable figures, including the President of the Philippines, the President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Director General of the IAEA.
In his keynote speech, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the innovative nature of NUTEC Plastics, which merges advanced nuclear applications with environmental protection. He highlighted the Philippines' commitment to this challenge, leveraging international scientific cooperation. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi explained how NUTEC Plastics is innovating in monitoring oceanic plastic pollution and transforming plastic waste into useful products. By examining plastic pollution at the atomic level, the initiative supports informed policy decisions to address the issue effectively.
ADB President Masato Kanda stressed the importance of combining science with financing and policy to solve this global problem. He announced a planned $1 billion program by ADB to develop a sustainable and resilient blue economy in the Philippines, utilizing digital solutions to model plastic pollution flows in the Pasig River. The ADB is also expanding its collaboration with the IAEA in areas such as food security and energy transition.
NUTEC Plastics collaborates with 53 countries to enhance plastic recycling and develop bio-based plastics, and with 102 countries to monitor marine microplastic pollution. The forum gathers government officials, scientists, policy makers, and representatives from the private sector, international financial institutions, and multilateral organizations from Asia and the Pacific and beyond.
A ministerial segment at the forum will focus on how various countries are addressing plastic pollution, setting the groundwork for solution-driven discussions. Representatives from organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and the ADB will also share their expertise. Young experts are expected to contribute their perspectives on how nuclear science can address the plastic pollution crisis. The event is being broadcast live.
Every day, about 2000 garbage trucks filled with plastic are dumped into the world's water bodies, with 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste entering waterways annually. This disrupts ecosystems and livelihoods as plastic breaks down into microplastics, which infiltrate ecosystems and the food chain through water, air, and soil. By 2050, global plastic production is expected to nearly triple, while less than 10% of the existing 7 billion tonnes of plastic has been recycled.
Radiation can transform plastic waste into high-value materials and create biodegradable bio-based plastics. The forum seeks to identify challenges to scaling these radiation technologies and propose strategies for overcoming them. Currently, eight countries, including Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, have NUTEC upcycling projects to demonstrate the feasibility of using irradiation to recycle plastic waste.
To support commercialization, the IAEA has released tools for measuring plastic circularity, assessing technological maturity, and calculating economic feasibility for integrating electron beam technologies into recycling. Laboratories worldwide are equipped with technology and expertise to monitor marine microplastic pollution, with over 400 scientists trained through the IAEA's technical cooperation programme.
The High Level Forum aims to highlight progress and unveil new tools for microplastic monitoring. Director General Grossi concluded that while significant progress has been made, much work remains, inviting governments, organizations, research institutes, and private enterprises to join in combating plastic waste.
